Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin can't help but feel nervous about having arthroscopic knee surgery this month. He has heard stories about athletes who never regain explosiveness after a knee operation.

"That's my only concern," Martin said. "I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen, but who's to say. You never know. That's the only thing I'm nervous about."

Martin missed only four games because of his chronically sore left knee but said he regularly felt pain. His surgery will take place within the next few weeks, with rehabilitation expected to begin in June.

"I ain't going to have no pain," said Martin, who credited the Nuggets athletic training staff for keeping his knee strong enough to make it through the season. "That's what I'm looking forward to."